BFF-26 Iran says virus cases surpass 150,000

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BFF-26

HEALTH-VIRUS-IRAN

Iran says virus cases surpass 150,000

TEHRAN, May 31, 2020 (BSS/AFP) – Iran said its caseload of novel
coronavirus infections passed the grim milestone of 150,000 on Sunday,
as the country struggles to contain a recent upward trend.

The government has largely lifted the restrictions it imposed in
order to halt a COVID-19 outbreak that first emerged in mid-February.

But the health ministry has warned of a potential virus resurgence
with new cluster outbreaks in a number of provinces.

Ministry spokesman Kianoush Jahanpour said 2,516 new cases were
confirmed across the country in the past 24 hours, bringing the total
to 151,466.

Infections have been on a rising trajectory in the Islamic republic
since hitting a near two-month low on May 2.

Jahanpour said the virus had claimed another 63 lives over the same
period, raising the overall toll to 7,797.

So far the government has reimposed a lockdown only in Khuzestan
province on Iran’s southwestern border with Iraq.

It remains “red”, the highest level on Iran’s colour-coded risk scale.

Experts both at home and abroad have voiced scepticism about Iran’s
official figures, saying the real toll could be much higher.

BSS/AFP/MRU/1844hrs